In Donetsk region, the SMM recorded more ceasefire violations, including, however, fewer explosions (about 100), compared with the previous reporting period (about 130 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in the Avdiivka-Yasynuvata-Donetsk airport area, in areas south of Svitlodarsk (government-controlled, 57km north-east of Donetsk) and in areas east of Hnutove (government-controlled, 20km north-east of Mariupol).

In Luhansk region, the SMM recorded fewer ceasefire violations, including about 20 explosions, compared with the previous reporting period (about 50 explosions). The majority of ceasefire violations were recorded in areas south-east of Zolote (government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk) (see the disengagement area section below), in areas south and south-west of Vilkhove (government-controlled, 22km north-east of Luhansk) as well as in areas west and north-west of Yuzhna-Lomuvatka (non-government-controlled, 60km west of Luhansk).

On the evening and night of 27 December, the SMM camera in Zolote recorded 20 projectiles in flight and three bursts, all at an assessed range of 1.5-4km east-south-east, south-east and south-south-east (assessed as inside the disengagement area), five projectiles at an assessed range of 2-4km east and east-south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area) as well as three projectiles at an assessed range of 2-4km east and south-east (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area).

During the day on 28 December, the same camera recorded three projectiles at an assessed range of 1-3km east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). Positioned in Zolote-5/Mykhailivka (non-government-controlled, 58km west of Luhansk), the SMM heard nine shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km west (unable to assess whether inside or outside the disengagement area) and eight shots of small-arms fire at an assessed range of 1-2km south-east (assessed as outside the disengagement area). The same day, in Katerynivka (government-controlled, 64km west of Luhansk), the SMM saw a car with military licence plates with three Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel on board entering the disengagement area.

Withdrawal of weapons

The SMM continued to monitor the withdrawal of weapons in implementation of the Memorandum and the Package of Measures and its Addendum.

Beyond the withdrawal lines but outside of designated storage sites[3]

Non-government-controlled areas

27 December

An SMM mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spotted:

20 tanks (ten T-72 and ten T-64) in a training area near Kruhlyk (31km south-west of Luhansk); and

An unidentified mini-UAV in flight from east to west about 1.5km south-west of Molodizhne (63km north-west of Luhansk). While leaving the area, the SMM saw three members of the armed formations standing about 50-75m east of road T0504; one of them was holding a control unit, which the SMM assessed as being the controller of the previously observed UAV.

Hardships faced by civilians at checkpoints along the contact line

At a checkpoint of the armed formations south of the Stanytsia Luhanska bridge (15km north-east of Luhansk), the SMM saw the body of a deceased man inside an ambulance. Medical staff told the SMM that the man (aged 65-80) had arrived earlier the same morning and had felt unwell, while waiting to cross toward government-controlled areas. A few hours later, near the same checkpoint, the SMM saw a woman (aged about 80) on board of an ambulance. A representative of an international organization told the SMM that the woman had complained about heart problems after having crossed from government-controlled areas and she would be transported to a hospital in Luhansk.

SMM facilitation of repair works to civilian infrastructure

The Mission facilitated and monitored adherence to the ceasefire to enable repair works to the Petrivske water pumping station near Artema (government-controlled, 26km north of Luhansk), power lines near Zolote-4/Rodina (government-controlled, 59km west of Luhansk), a power station in Katerynivka, as well as repair works to damaged houses in Marinka (government-controlled, 23km south-west of Donetsk) and Krasnohorivka (government-controlled, 21km west of Donetsk). The SMM also continued to facilitate and monitor adherence to the ceasefire to enable demining and repair works to restore electricity to a monastery in Donetsk city’s Kyivskyi district (non-government-controlled, 6km north-west of the city centre). The Mission continued to facilitate the operation of the Donetsk Filtration Station (DFS) (15km north of Donetsk); repair works to power lines supplying the DFS were completed on 27 December (see SMM Daily Report 28 December 2018), thus restoring power supply to the DFS.

*Restrictions of SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate

The SMM’s monitoring and freedom of movement are restricted by security hazards and threats, including risks posed by mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other impediments – which vary from day to day. The SMM’s mandate provides for safe and secure access throughout Ukraine. All signatories of the Package of Measures have agreed on the need for this safe and secure access, that restriction of the SMM’s freedom of movement constitutes a violation, and on the need for rapid response to these violations. They have also agreed that theJoint Centre for Control and Co-ordination (JCCC) should contribute to such response and co-ordinate mine clearance. Nonetheless, the armed formations in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions frequently deny the SMM access to areas adjacent to Ukraine’s border outside control of the Government (for example, see SMM Daily Report 28 December 2018). The SMM’s operations in Donetsk and Luhansk regions remain restricted following the fatal incident of 23 April 2017 near Pryshyb; these restrictions continued to limit the Mission’s observations.

Denials of access:

Regular restrictions related to disengagement areas and mines/UXO:

The sides continued to deny the SMM full access to the three disengagement areas, as well as the ability to travel certain roads previously identified as important for effective monitoring by the Mission and for civilians’ movement, through failure to conduct comprehensive clearance of mines and UXO.

The SMM did not travel across the bridge in Shchastia (government-controlled, 20km north of Luhansk) due to the presence of mines. A Ukrainian Armed Forces officer of the JCCC said there were mines on the road south of the bridge.

[1] For a complete breakdown of ceasefire violations, please see the annexed table. During the reporting period, the SMM cameras in Krasnohorivka and at the entry-exit checkpoint near Pyshchevyk were not operational.

* Please see the section at the end of this report entitled “Restrictions of the SMM’s freedom of movement or other impediments to fulfilment of its mandate”.